The issue of competitive balance has hung over Ohio high schools for decades. OHSAA members first voted on private-public separation in 1978. OHSAA members have been asked to vote on a competitive balance referendum four straight years. Results of this year's vote will be announced May 16. (Ted Crow, The Plain Dealer)

From 1978's proposal of separate postseasons for public and private schools to 2014's proposed multiplier formula, finding a way for public and private schools to coexist - or go their separate ways - has remained up for debate.

Here's a look at how the issue has developed through the years:

1978 - A call for separation

By the end of 1977, the debate over private-public separation was getting louder, but the OHSAA didn't think it was the correct path to take.

"All that is needed is some stricter boundaries to alleviate the situation," said then associate commissioner Dick Armstrong in late 1977. "Since the parochial schools have become dominant factors in the state tournaments, some coaches in the public schools are urging a change in structure for the tournaments.

"You didn't hear this before when the public schools were winning most of the time."

The following year, the OHSAA's hand was forced. A petition calling for separation gathered approximately 300 signatures, sending the issue to a vote of school administrators. But when the ballots were counted, the proposal was voted down, 81 percent to 19 percent.

The results were similar to the makeup of the OHSAA, which was 13 percent private.

1993 – Something lost, something gained

Between 1972 and 1992, private schools won 51 of 89 state championships. By 1993, private schools had won 10 of the previous 13 Division I state football titles, including four by St. Ignatius.

Manchester superintendent Marco Burnette had seen enough.

"I have been in public education for nearly 30 years, and during that time all I have heard are people complaining about the (football) playoffs," Burnette said in 1993. "I just felt I'd try to do something about it before I retire."

Burnette's petition led to another OHSAA vote on public-private tournament separation. The proposal targeted sports with four or more divisions (football, boys and girls basketball, baseball and volleyball).

A poll of The Plain Dealer's seven-county region found 49 percent of area schools supported the proposal. But the statewide vote wasn't close – 66.8 percent against, 33.2 percent for.

Despite the defeat, both sides noticed the increase in support from 1978.

"When I look at that and see where 240 school principals are telling us that they were in favor of that, then that issue needs to be addressed," said then OHSAA commissioner Clair Muscaro. "I think we have a responsibility in this office ... to look into the area and see if some kind of change is warranted."

Said Burnette: "We never felt the issue would pass. But I think we have raised the conscious and awareness levels, and we've raised some support."

2011 – A new way of counting

In 2005, less than a year after leaving his post as Avon Lake superintendent to become OHSAA commissioner, Dan Ross listed the private-public issue high on his agenda.

"We're going to look at a multiplier or options to make the playoff field more level," Ross said at the time. "You need to make sure when you come up with that multiplier, you can defend it because you're probably going to end up in front of a judge somewhere talking about it."

Afterward, Ross said the OHSAA's competitive balance committee would not reconvene anytime soon, and that a third consecutive OHSAA-sponsored referendum was not expected in 2013.

But in Wayne County, a group led by Triway superintendent Dave Rice had different plans. Talk of another petition seeking separate postseasons was heard in 2011. Now it seemed certain.

"The past two years, the attempt to level the playing field has failed," said Rice. "Where do we go from here?"

2013 – Separation, and then compromise

Thirty-five years after Ohio schools first voted down private-public postseason separation, the choice was back. Rice's petition had enough support to be placed among the OHSAA's 2013 referendum items.

In its place was a new multiplier plan, presented by Rice and Dalton superintendent Scott Beatty. Instead of calling for a split between public and private, which some argued could do more harm than good, the revamped multiplier was more focused than its predecessors.

"It's the fairest proposal and the best one so far,'' Ross said. "It deals with the issue about where kids come from that play for your school. It only deals with the kids that are playing in that sport. It hits the crux of the issue.''

A JJHuddle.com survey prior to the vote indicated that, of the one-fourth of schools that responded, 55 percent were in favor of the new plan.

Although it was the closest vote yet, the referendum still failed, 327-308, with 157 schools not casting ballots. Twenty-seven ballots arrived late and were not counted.

Ross announced the OHSAA would work on adjusting the new multiplier.

Down in Wayne County, Rice was soon back to work as well.

2014 - Looking for a starting point

With Rice unable to gather the required signatures (75) for a new separation petition – "We weren't really close at all," he said – the OHSAA presented its latest competitive balance referendum in March.

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